JP2003186893A - Information collecting device and information collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information collecting device capable of suppressing temporary increase in information processing volume. <P>SOLUTION: In such cases that a FLASH ROM 13b in the controller part 13 has a predetermined number of data units set to be 5 and the predetermined time for data reading set to be infinite therein, a CPU 13a in a controller part 13 does not create an information file for the data read out from an ID tag 2 before the number of data units reaches to be five, and creates a single information file comprising the five data units when the data read out from the ID tag 2 has reached to be five in number of data unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information collecting apparatus using an information recording medium such as a non-contact IC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, "data carriers" and "contactless I"
Information wirelessly transmitted from an information storage medium called "C card", "transponder" or the like is received by a transmission / reception unit (hereinafter referred to as "scanner") called "interrogator" or "reader / writer", and is received by the scanner. An information collection system in which information is collected by a host computer has been put to practical use in various fields such as room entry / exit management and physical distribution management.

Such an information collecting system has a LAN (Local Area Network) as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203433.
Interface is provided on the scanner and the scanner is LAN
To connect one or more host computers to the scanner via a LAN, and further connect the administrator's computer to the scanner via the Internet connected to the LAN.

In such a data collection system, each time the scanner reads information from the information storage medium, one file corresponding to the read information is created. That is, one file is created for one piece of information.

[0005]

However, in the method of creating one file for one piece of information read as described above, when the scanner receives a large amount of information in a short time, Since a large number of files must be created in a short time, the amount of information processing is temporarily increased, which causes a heavy load on the arithmetic processing unit such as the CPU. Further, for example, when a management serial number or the like is provided to manage the file, the amount of the management serial number giving process increases, which causes a problem that the arithmetic processing unit such as the CPU is heavily burdened.

An object of the present invention is to provide a data collection device capable of suppressing a temporary increase in the amount of information processing.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading section for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, and a file creating section for creating a file in which a plurality of the information read by the reading section are collected. An information collection device including a storage unit that stores the file created by the file creation unit. With such a configuration, a file in which a plurality of pieces of information read by the reading unit is collected is created.
Compared to the case where one file is created for each piece of information, the file creation process when a large amount of information is read in a short time can be reduced.

A second aspect of the present invention is a reading section for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, a file creating section for creating a file in which a predetermined number of the above-mentioned information read by the reading section is created, and the file creating section. An information collecting apparatus including a storage unit that stores the above-described file created by. According to such a configuration, a file in which a predetermined number of the above-mentioned information read by the reading unit is collected is created, and therefore a large amount of information can be created in a short time as compared with the case where one file is created for one information. The file creation process when reading information can be reduced.

A third aspect of the invention is configured to further include a setting unit for setting the predetermined number. With such a configuration, in addition to the above effects, the predetermined number can be changed as necessary.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a reading section for reading the information recorded on the information recording medium, a file creating section for creating a file summarizing the information read by the reading section within a predetermined time, and An information collecting device including a storage unit that stores the file created by the file creating unit. According to such a configuration, a file in which the above information read by the reading unit is collected is created within a predetermined time, so that a shorter time is required as compared with the case where one file is created for one information. The file creation process can be reduced when a large amount of information is read in the meantime. Also, it becomes possible to create a file every predetermined time.

A fifth aspect of the invention is configured to further include a setting unit for setting the predetermined time. With such a configuration, in addition to the above effects, the predetermined time can be changed as necessary.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention, when the number of pieces of the information read by the reading section before the predetermined time has passed by the file creating section reaches a predetermined number. It is configured to further create a file in which a predetermined number of the above-mentioned information is collected. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the number of pieces of information collected in one file from becoming too large when a large amount of information is read in a predetermined time.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a reading section for reading the information recorded on the information recording medium, and a reading end section for outputting a reading end output for instructing the end of reading the information,
A file creation unit that creates a file that summarizes the information read by the reading unit and a memory that stores the file created by the file creation unit between the reading end unit and the output of the reading end output. And an information collecting device including a section. According to such a configuration, since a file in which the information read by the reading unit is collected is created between the reading end unit and the reading end output is output, one file is created for one information item. Compared with the case, it is possible to reduce the file creation process when a large amount of information is read in a short time. Further, since the file is not created until the reading end unit outputs the reading end output, it is possible to suppress unnecessary processing of creating an unnecessary file.

An eighth aspect of the invention further includes a serial number assigning unit that assigns a serial number to the file created by the file creating unit, and a notification unit that notifies the latest serial number assigned by the serial number assigning unit. With such a configuration, in addition to the above effects, one file is created for one piece of information, a serial number is assigned to each file, and the latest serial number is notified as the serial number is assigned. Compared with the case, the frequency of the serial number notification can be reduced when a large amount of information is read during the predetermined time.

A ninth invention is an information collecting method including a step of reading information recorded on an information recording medium, a step of creating a file in which a plurality of the information are collected, and a step of storing the file. . According to such an information collecting method, the file creation process when a large amount of information is read in a short time can be reduced as compared with the case where one file is created for one information.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information collecting unit 1, in which the information collecting unit 1 includes an antenna unit 11 and a scanner unit 1.
2. The controller unit 13 is provided.

The scanner section 12 which constitutes a reading section in cooperation with the antenna section 11 reads information recorded on the ID tag 2 as an information recording medium, for example, identification information.
Communication between the scanner unit 12 and the ID tag 2 is, for example, 2.4.
It is a non-contact type that uses a signal of a frequency of 5 GHz band for transmission and reception, and when the inquiry signal is transmitted from the scanner unit 12 to the ID tag 2 through the antenna unit 11, the ID tag 2 responds to the inquiry signal. The information is transmitted, and the scanner unit 12 receives this information via the antenna unit 11. It should be noted that transmission / reception between the scanner unit 12 and the ID tag 2 is 2.45 GHz.
The signal is not limited to the frequency signal in the band and can be changed as appropriate, and for example, information may be acquired using electromagnetic waves or the like.
Further, the method in which the scanner unit 12 reads information from the ID tag 2 is not limited to the non-contact type, and a contact type reading method such as a magnetic card may be adopted. However, when the non-contact method is used, it is possible to reduce the information reading operation that compels the user to read the information from the ID tag 2 as compared with the contact method.

In the scanner section 12, the CPU 12a
Performs various control processes of the scanner unit 12 according to the control program stored in the ROM 12b. RAM12
In c, data necessary for processing by the CPU 12a is stored. Reference numeral 12d is a communication interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as "communication I / F") for communicating with the controller unit 13. Reference numeral 12e is a communication control circuit that modulates / demodulates a transmission / reception signal with the ID tag 2, and the antenna unit 11
To communicate with the ID tag 2. 12f is multiple LEs
This is a control driver that lights D and the like and receives the input of the switch.

FTP (File Transfer Pr)
controller unit 13 having a server function
Has the following configuration. File creation section, serial number assignment section,
The CPU 13a as the notifying unit and the information deleting unit uses the FLASHROM (flash ROM) 13 as the setting unit.
b, various control processes of the controller unit 13 according to the control program stored in b and the setting data of a predetermined number and a predetermined time, which will be described later, for example, information read from the ID tag 2 by the scanner unit 12 via the antenna unit 11. Create an information file that is a collection of multiple files, and sequentially add serial numbers that increase from 1 to the created information file.
An information file is stored in the RAM 13f described later, the stored information file is managed by the assigned serial number information, and this information file is transferred to the information processing unit 4 described later via the network 3 using FTP, etc. Process.
The RAM 13c stores data necessary for the processing of the CPU 13a and information read by the scanner unit 12. Communication interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as "communication I / F") 1
3d is for communicating with the scanner unit 12. The RAM 13f as a storage unit stores the above-mentioned information file, and the power source is backed up by the battery 13e.
Real-time clock (hereinafter referred to as "RTC") 13
g measures the time. The control driver 13h uses a plurality of LEs.
It lights up D etc. and receives switch input. A LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as “LAN I / F”) 13i is connected to the network 3. Here, a supplementary explanation of FTP is that TCP is TCP / IP (Transmis).
sionControlProtocol / Inter
This is a file transfer protocol used in NetProtocol) and enables access to a host or the like on the network and transfer of files using FTP. In this way, since the controller unit 13 gives a serial number and contains a single or plural pieces of information read by the scanner unit 12 from the ID tag 2 via the antenna unit 11 and transferred by using FTP, the file is stored in the RAM 13f.
For example, it is possible to eliminate restrictions on the model of the computer that is the upper station and the development language. In this example, the RAM 13f stores substantially 100 pieces of information, but this number can be changed as appropriate.

The information processing section 4 has the following configuration. The CPU 4a as the read information determination unit and the read unit uses R
OM4b and hard disk (hereinafter referred to as "HD") 4
Various control processes of the information processing unit 4 are performed according to the control program and setting data stored in c. The HD 4c as an information storage unit stores the information file and the like acquired from the information collection unit 1. The RAM 4d stores data necessary for processing by the CPU 4a. The LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as “LAN I / F”) 4e is connected to the network 3. Real-time clock (hereinafter "RTC"
Say. ) 4f measures the current time. The communication interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as "communication I / F") 4g is for communicating with the external time server 5, and inputs time information from the external time server 5 to correct the time measured by the RTC 4f. The input unit 4h such as a keyboard sets a predetermined number or a predetermined time in the FLASHROM 13b in the information collecting unit 1.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2A shows the FL in the controller unit 13.
The operation is shown when the predetermined number = 1 and the predetermined time = infinity are set in the ASHROM 13b. In this case, the CPU 13a in the controller unit 13 creates an information file for each piece of information obtained each time information is acquired from the ID tag 2, assigns a serial number to the created file, and assigns the assigned serial number to the information. Notify the processing unit 4.

FIG. 2B shows an example in which information is read from a plurality of ID tags 2 within a short period of time with the same settings as in FIG. 2A. In this case, the information file creation process and the notification process must be performed in a short time.

FIG. 2C shows the creation of an information file according to the number of cases. In this example, F in the controller unit 13 is used.
The operation is shown when the predetermined number = 5 and the predetermined time = infinity are set in the LASHROM 13b. In this case, the CPU 13a in the controller unit 13 does not create the information file until the information read from the ID tag 2 reaches 5, so that even if the information is read from a plurality of ID tags 2 in a short time, as shown in FIG. The frequency of the information file creation process and the notification process can be reduced as compared with (b).

FIG. 2D shows the creation of an information file by time. In this example, F in the controller section 13 is used.
Predetermined number = infinity, predetermined time = 1 in LASHROM 13b
It shows the operation when set to minutes. In this case, C
The PU 13a creates an information file in which information read from a plurality of ID tags 2 is collected in one minute, and the frequency of information file creation processing and notification processing can be reduced. Figure 2
File creation by time as shown in (d) is ID
When the interval of the information read from the tag 2 is almost the same as the predetermined time, one information file is created for each piece of information, and when the interval of the information read from the ID tag 2 is shorter than the predetermined time, multiple information files are created. An information file summarizing the above is created after a lapse of a predetermined time.

FIG. 3 shows file creation and serial number notification in which information file creation based on the number of cases and information file creation based on time are combined, and the disadvantage of the information file creation function based on the number of cases is controlled by the CPU 13a. The creation function is supplemented, and the disadvantage of the information file creation function by time is supplemented by the information file creation function by the number of cases. To be more specific, if the information file creation function based on the number of cases is the only problem, the information file will not be created easily if the interval of the information read from the ID tag 2 is very long. This problem can be solved by combining the above, and if the number of information read from the ID tag 2 in a short time becomes very large with only the information file creation function based on time, the number of information included in one information file Although the problem that it becomes large arises, this problem can be solved by combining the information file creation function according to the number of cases described above. In addition, in FIG.
The same components as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 focusing on the operation of FIG. In addition, the predetermined number = n, the predetermined time =
RAM in the controller unit 13 is set for m minutes
It is assumed that the value of the information counter provided in 13c is 0 and the time of the predetermined time timer managed by the RAM 13c is 0 using the time measured by the RTC 13g.

When the scanner unit 12 receives information from the ID tag 2 via the antenna unit 11, the information is stored in the RAM 12c until it is output to the controller unit 13.

At this time, the CPU 1 of the controller unit 13
3a executes the information reading operation, and the communication I / F 12d
When an information transmission command is output to the scanner section 12 via the CPU (step 4a), the CPU 12a of the scanner section 12 reads R
The information stored in the AM 12c is output to the controller unit 13 via the communication I / F 12d to clear the information stored in the RAM 12c. That is, the information stored in the RAM 12c is only the information not output to the controller unit 13.

When the CPU 13a of the controller unit 13 receives the information from the scanner unit 12, the received information is temporarily stored in the RAM 13c (steps 4b and 4c) and the information reading operation is completed. When the scanner unit 12 does not have the information read from the ID tag 2, the information reading operation is finished as it is (step 4b).

When the information reading operation is completed, the CPU 13a of the controller section 13 executes an information file creating operation to extract the information stored in the RAM 13c (step 4d).

When the information is stored in the RAM 13c (step 4e), the RAM is stored by the number of the stored information.
The value of the information counter provided in 13c is increased, and it is determined whether the value of the information counter reaches a predetermined number = n (step 4f).

When the value of the information counter reaches a predetermined number = n (step 4f), the CPU 13a executes the information file creation function by the above-mentioned number, and creates an information file in which the information stored in the RAM 13c is put together. A serial number is added to the information file, and the serial number is used as the file name of the information file in the RAM 13f.
(Step 4g). Subsequently, the CPU 13a notifies the information processing unit 4 of the newly assigned serial number via the network 3, clears the information stored in the RAM 13c, and ends the information file creation operation. (Step 4
h).

When the value of the information counter does not reach the predetermined number = n in step 4f, it is determined whether the value of the predetermined time timer managed by the RAM 13c reaches the predetermined time = m minutes (step 4i).

When the value of the predetermined time timer reaches the predetermined time = m minutes (step 4i), the CPU 13a executes the information file creating function according to the above time, and the RAM 13
Create an information file that summarizes the information stored in c and add a serial number to the information file,
RAM with the serial number as the file name of the information file
It is stored in 13f (step 4g). Then, CPU1
3a notifies the information processing unit 4 of the newly assigned serial number via the network 3, clears the information stored in the RAM 13c, and ends the information file creation operation (step 4h).

If the value of the predetermined time timer has not reached the predetermined time = m minutes in step 4i, or RAM in step 4e.
If the information is not stored in 13c, the information file is not created and the information file creation operation ends.

When the information file creating operation is completed, the CPU 13a of the controller unit 13 executes the information file deleting operation to extract the information file stored in the RAM 13f (step 4j), and each storage time exceeds a predetermined time. It is determined (step 4k), the information file whose storage time exceeds the predetermined time is deleted (step 4l), the information file deleting operation is ended, and the above-mentioned information reading operation is returned to. If the number of information files stored in the RAM 13f does not exceed 100,
The information file is not deleted, the information file deletion operation is terminated, and the operation returns to the information reading operation described above.

As described above, since the information file creating function based on the number of cases and / or the information file creating function based on time is executed, a large number of files can be created in a short time as compared with the case where one file is created for one piece of information. It is possible to reduce the file creation processing when reading the information of.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This example is used, for example, to easily confirm whether or not there are a predetermined number of items to which the ID tags 2 are attached. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 5, the display unit 6
Displays the number of information read from the ID tag 2 via the antenna unit 11 after the start switch 7a is operated. When the stop switch 7b as a reading end portion is operated by the user or the like, it outputs a reading end output instructing the end of reading information. The cancel switch 7c generates a process cancel output when operated by a user or the like during the process of reading information.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG. 5 have the same reference numerals, and in FIG. 7, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 4 have the same reference numerals.

For example, the case where the ID tag 2 is attached to each of the items to be shipped (for example, the clothes which have been cleaned) will be explained as follows.
When shipping the individual pieces, a plastic container or the like, which is believed to contain 100 pieces, is placed near the antenna unit 11 and the start switch 7a is operated.

When the start switch 7a is operated (step 7a), the CPU 13a causes the steps 4a to 4 mentioned above.
The process of c is performed, and the number of read information items is displayed on the display unit 6 (step 7b). This display is 100
If less, shake the container and read the information again.

When the display on the display unit 6 becomes 100, the user confirms that there are 100 items and the stop switch 7
Operate b.

By operating the stop switch 7b (step 7c), the CPU 13a causes the steps 4d to 4 described above to be performed.
1 is processed.

In this example, since a file in which the information read by the reading unit is collected is created from the reading end unit to the output of the reading end output, one file is created for one information. Compared with, the file creation process when reading a large amount of information in a short time can be reduced, the number of items can be easily confirmed, and the file is not created until the read end output is output from the read end unit. Therefore, unnecessary processing of creating unnecessary files can be suppressed.

Although the number of files substantially stored in the RAM 13f is 100 in the above description, the number of files stored in the RAM 13f is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the above description, the serial number starts from 1 and is increased by one, but the starting number is not limited to 1 and can be changed as appropriate, and the interval between serial numbers is not limited to 1.

The operation of the information collecting unit 4 is CP
When the U4a receives the notification from the information collecting unit 1, the U4a compares the latest serial number included in the received notification with the file name of the information file stored in the HD 4c, that is, the serial number having the largest serial number. That is, it is determined whether the information file corresponding to the serial number notified this time is the last acquired information file (final acquisition file) among the already acquired information files.

The latest serial number included in the received notification is HD
4c, the CPU 4a of the information processing unit 4 differs from the highest serial number among the serial numbers of the information files stored in 4c.
Is determined based on the latest serial number notified of the information file (hereinafter referred to as “difference file”) that has not been acquired from the information collection unit 1 via the network 3 and the serial number information of the file stored in the HD 4c. Then, the determined difference file is acquired from the information collecting unit 1 via the network 3. Therefore, the information processing unit can acquire only necessary information. In particular, even when each of the plurality of information processing units has a different information file already read from the information collecting unit (for example, when one of the information processing units is temporarily down), Only the information files required by the information processing unit can be acquired from the information collecting unit.

If the period during which the information collecting unit 1 does not read information from the ID tag 2 exceeds a predetermined period, the CPU 1
3a notifies the information processing unit 4 via the network 3 of the latest serial number in the information file stored in the RAM 13f at that time. This is a function of notifying the information processing unit that the information collection unit 1 is operating.

Information processing unit 4 notified by this function
Confirms that the information collecting unit 1 is operating and performs the same processing as above. At this time, the only part different from the above processing is the case where the serial number of the information file stored in the HD 4c is equal to the latest notified serial number. This point will be explained. In such a case, the CPU 4a Decides that reading the file is unnecessary,
The operation ends without acquiring the information file. Therefore,
In such a case, it is possible to confirm that the information collecting unit 1 is operating with a serial number that does not include information, and only the serial number that does not include information is notified, and the information read from the information recording medium is wasted. It will be possible to suppress sending to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Information recording medium 7b Reading end section 11, 12 reading section 13a File creation section 13a Serial number assigning section 13a Notification section 13b setting section 13f storage unit

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Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, and a file creating unit for creating a file in which a plurality of the information read by the reading unit is collected.
An information collecting apparatus, comprising: a storage unit that stores the file created by the file creating unit. 2. A reading section for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, a file creating section for creating a file in which a predetermined number of the above-mentioned information read by the reading section is created, and the above-mentioned creating section created by the file creating section. An information collecting apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores a file. 3. The information collecting device according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit for setting the predetermined number. 4. A reading section for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, a file creating section for creating a file summarizing the information read by the reading section during a predetermined time, and the file creating section. An information collection device, comprising: a storage unit that stores the created file. 5. The information collecting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a setting unit for setting the predetermined time. 6. The file creation unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the file creation unit has the predetermined number of the information when the number of the information read by the reading unit reaches a predetermined number before the predetermined time elapses. An information collecting device, which further creates a file in which 7. A reading unit for reading information recorded on an information recording medium, a reading end unit for outputting a reading end output for instructing the end of reading of the information, and the reading end output for outputting from the reading end unit. Information collection characterized by including a file creation unit that creates a file that summarizes the information read by the reading unit and a storage unit that stores the file created by the file creation unit apparatus. 8. The serial number assigning unit for assigning a serial number to a file created by the file creating unit, and the notifying unit for notifying the latest serial number assigned by the serial number assigning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7. An information collecting device, further comprising: 9. An information collecting method comprising: a step of reading information recorded on an information recording medium; a step of creating a file in which a plurality of pieces of the information are collected; and a step of storing the file.